What's on in Columbus, United States through the year

Peak crowds — Zoo Wildlights, Winter / Christmas break in United States

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Zoo Wildlights (20 Nov – 5 Jan (usually))

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Busy — Spring break in United States

Nothing new starts in March.

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Busy — one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in May.

Busy — Summer break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Peak crowds — Red, White and Boom, Ohio State Fair

• Festival

  Red, White and Boom

  3 JulMajor festivalCrowdedClosures

  The largest fireworks display in the Midwest, fired over the Scioto on the evening of the 3rd with a street festival along the Mile all day. Downtown parking is gone by mid-afternoon and the bridges close. Source ↗

• Festival

  Ohio State Fair

  29 Jul – 9 AugMajor festivalCrowded

  Twelve days at the Expo Center at the turn of the month, one of the biggest state fairs in the country and the reason the north side is solid traffic for a fortnight. The butter cow is not optional. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Ohio State Fair, Ohio State football Saturdays

• Season

  Ohio State football Saturdays

  28 Aug – 30 Nov · usuallyCrowdedBook early

  On seven or eight autumn Saturdays a hundred thousand people fill the Horseshoe and the whole city wears scarlet. Hotel rates for those weekends are set a year out; the Michigan game at the end of November is the extreme. Source ↗

Still on: Ohio State Fair (29 Jul – 9 Aug)

Peak crowds — Ohio State football Saturdays, All American Quarter Horse Congress

• Festival

  All American Quarter Horse Congress

  26 Sep – 24 OctMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  A month-long horse show at the Expo Center that quietly fills every hotel room within thirty miles from late September. Free to walk in, and the trade show is bigger than most county fairs. Source ↗

Still on: Ohio State football Saturdays (28 Aug – 30 Nov (usually))

Peak crowds — Ohio State football Saturdays, All American Quarter Horse Congress

• Nature

  Fall colour

  10 Oct – 5 Nov · usuallyAutumn colour

  Central Ohio turns in the third and fourth weeks of October, and the Hocking Hills gorges an hour southeast are where people drive for it. Weekday mornings are the only time those trailheads have parking.

Still on: Ohio State football Saturdays (28 Aug – 30 Nov (usually)), All American Quarter Horse Congress (26 Sep – 24 Oct)

Peak crowds — Ohio State football Saturdays, Zoo Wildlights

• Holiday

  Zoo Wildlights

  20 Nov – 5 Jan · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The zoo strings several million lights and stays open into the evening from late November to the new year. Weekend slots need booking, and the animals mostly ignore the whole thing. Source ↗

Still on: Ohio State football Saturdays (28 Aug – 30 Nov (usually)), Fall colour (10 Oct – 5 Nov (usually))

Peak crowds — Zoo Wildlights, Winter / Christmas break in United States

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Zoo Wildlights (20 Nov – 5 Jan (usually))